Ex-Portchester Sports College pupil, Harlem Dillon (18), has been training in different styles of fighting since the age of five. Now he has the opportunity to attend Dean Listers world renowned Fight Camp, but needs funding to support his quest.
Harlem started off kickboxing, and at the age of 14 he started to take the training and fitness more seriously and started to do gym inter-clubs for Muay Thai. At 17 he got into Jiu Jitsu Grappling, which then lead to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting, and he realised the direction that he wanted to take, to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and someday become one of the best fighters in the world under Dean Lister.
Harlem “When i tuned 18 i had this huge impulse of hunger to fight and train all the time, at this point I was getting ready for my travels to the fight camp in America”
Since leaving school Herlem has had training in being a fitness instructor, and in forensic and medical science. He now works for Scramble MMA, a Poole based company who specialise in martial arts clothing, accessories, and branded leisurewear.
Harlem “Scramble MMA have helped me out more then I could imagine, by giving me confidence and faith in my abilities. They gave me placement to work for them, I wouldn’t even be thinking about traveling if it wasn’t for them, and my quality of training wouldn’t be as good, they have done more than I could ask of them.”
He has been training hard six days a week at Ippon Gym and Thaiworks in Bournemouth, and competing in inter-club and grappling tournaments, and in his debut MMA fight in October 2013 he beat his opponent in 49 seconds.
Dean Lister, who runs the Fight Camp in San Diego is a past world champion fighter, winning a sway of championship titles and medals throughout his ongoing career, specialising in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sambo and Wrestling styles of fighting.
I asked Harlem what makes him want to do this very rough and violent sport?“In my opinion it isn’t a very rough or violent sport its all competition at the end of the day that’s why i think i enjoy it so much the idea of going into a cage and the outcome of the fight is just in my hands no one elses is amazing for me i can go out there and fight my fight without worrying out anyone else, there are so many aspects to this game aswell such as Brazillian Jiu Jitsu,Wrestling, Muay Thai, Boxing & Judo there are a lot more but these are the main ones.”
Harlem is asking for public support to raise the money to help towards traveling and accommodation costs, for which you will receive anything from a ‘Thank You’ to a small gift from where he will be training.
Harlem “Your support would honestly mean to world to me, I try my best to train,work and keep on top of everything but it is very difficult. This would allow me to just forget all of that for this period of time, I could just train all day and concentrate on my fighting career.”
To support Harlem in his journey to achieve his ultimate goal to fight in the UFC and become a World Champion, please visit www.harlemdillon.com .
